Residents take time to donate at blood drive

Cari Marzolf of Laketown Township donates blood at the Graafschap Fire Department Station, 4534 60th St., on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.

James Woods relaxed on a table at Graafschap Fire Department Station on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, with a ladder truck just outside the open bay doors.

“As long as I’m healthy, I should give blood,” the Laketown Township resident said, noting a family member who needed transfusions. “You never know when I might need this too.”

The American Red Cross hosted the blood drive, its fifth event at the fire station, 4534 60^th St., since August 2023.

The popularity of the local drives has meant organizers used a larger area of the station, moving out of the training room and into the equipment bay.

The tables were set up with fire trucks and other emergency equipment in the background.

The fire department used the training room to demonstrate its new hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation course.

Cari Marzolf of Laketown Township was happy to donate blood.

“It’s an easy way to help other people,” she said.

The event is important to help the Red Cross. The national blood product supply has fallen by more than 25 percent since July 1, according to the group.

The fire department hosted its first blood collection on Aug. 31, 2023, with each successive event collecting more units.

An American Red Cross worker assists James Woods of Laketown Township at the blood drive at the Graafschap Fire Department Station, 4534 60th St., on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.

Risk reduction

The blood drives at the fire station are part of a broader community service provided by the department.

The department has free weekly blood pressure checks at the facility from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays.

The department is also engaged in Community Risk Reduction, providing home safety inspections and an expanded smoke/carbon monoxide detector program.

Reflective address signs are made in-house by Graafschap Fire Department retirees. The signs are usually ready for pick up at the fire station after two business days of receiving the order – and the $20 cost is paid at the time of pick-up.

The signs can also be ordered here.

The program also continues a smoke and carbon monoxide detector installation program that is beginning its 11^th year. Free alarms installed by firefighters are available to residents. These 10-year lithium battery alarms are provided by a state grant.

For more information, call the fire department at (616) 396-4060 or visit here.